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November 28, 2011

merry miss much

I had just swept, and I'd just wiped the counter. I made noodles with olives because I thought it would be easy, in between decorating the tree and helping Carter with long division. But then I dropped an entire bowl onto the floor, and missed the garbage can when I went to throw it all away.

I'm going to miss it when our tree branches are no longer weighted down to the floor with three ornaments per branch and laminated reindeer heads with tiny school pictures.

It's so easy to forget. I know this because already I hold a ceramic blob made in art and I don't remember if it was Noah's or Carter's. The blue Hallmark Baby's First Christmas ornament... I can't recall whose first it was. I look at our tree, uneven and I suppose not exactly how I prefer it to look, but I imagine my mom, and my mother-in-law decorating their trees just so, how they like it. Perfect and without the assistance of small children. And I know all too soon that will be me someday. I already miss this.

I read Ira Sleeps Over to them before bed Again, in my best librarian storytime voice. Everything is special by Christmas-tree-light.

I love how kids decorate a tree. I did some rearranging after our kids did their work, but not much. I think I would actually lose interest before I was done if it was left up to me to decorate it all.

Steph, The holidays seem to amplify the craziness and chaos that is family life. Love how you always have such an insightful way to capture the feelings of motherhood. In regard to that Hallmark ornament, there should be a date on the bottom. I worked there in high school and they're all dated. Maybe that'll help narrow down the rightful owner!Amy

I've solved the 4, 6 and 8 year old vision of a Christmas tree v my own arsty need for visual perfection by having two every year, one in each of the rooms we use most. So the lounge has my real fir tree, colour co-ordinated, balanced, mused over, oft re-arranged tree and the kitchen has the kids 'throw the box at it' tree complete with decorations that are more sticky tape and a tub of office shredded paper poured over it, and then we stand back and all appreciate each others work! :-D

I love Xmas tree light. We might not even have a XMAS tree this year b/c all of Xmas stuff is in storage, we're living with MIL and she doesn't go all out on decorating for the holidays, AND we won't actually be here for the holiday. But the lights (and the stockings)- I miss those.

I don't have any memories of helping to decorate the tree...except getting to hang the tinsel (and even then my mom would follow behind and evenly distribute it). Ugh! Sorry, I'm not trying to be depressing - I just want to say how I think it is so important to have those family traditions of decorating the tree and actually allowing the kids to hang stuff where they want! Those memories are what Christmas is all about...not a perfectly decorated tree!! :) xoxo Once again, you have so eloquently expressed what I so needed to hear right now! me[dot]jodyandjoy[at]gmail.com